Schatz named to Democratic leadership post in Senate

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz delivers an address at the IUCN World Conservation Congress opening ceremony at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center arena on Sept. 1.

The Democratic leadership in the U.S. Senate has named Sen. Brian Schatz as one of the chief deputy whips, a leadership job Schatz said will give him a greater role in shaping policy and communications for the minority Democrats.

U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) was also named chief deputy whip, and the two will join U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), who already holds that post.

“I’m deeply honored to serve in this new leadership role,” Schatz, a Hawaii Democrat, said in a news release. “We have a lot of work to do in the Senate, and this new post puts me in a better position to help shape and defend our priorities. I look forward to working with Senators Booker and Merkley and our diverse leadership team on building a stronger future for Hawaii and our country.”

Schatz and Booker are two of the youngest members of the Senate, and Minority Whip Dick Durbin said in a written statement that both lawmakers have “proven their mettle as leading policy minds in our country, and have earned a place helping to shape policy and communications in our caucus. Our team is stronger for their experience and vision.”

Schatz faced only nominal opposition in the 2016 election, and winning more than 70 percent of the vote. After the election he was appointed to the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, which oversees federal housing and transit agencies.

Schatz already served on the Senate committees on Appropriations; Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Indian Affairs; and Ethics.

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demos are looking 8 years from now so need a youth corps to relate to today’s millennial. schatz as our senior senator and tulsi as our junior senator will position our state for better representation. marie and colleen will be too old by then, and be powerless for the next 8 years as minority party members.
time to look forward rather than in the past. hawaii will be irrelevant without ‘senior’ representation in 8 years.

Great to have somebody like Schatz with such a bright future as one of this country’s young leaders representing Hawaii. In times like these, we need more people like him to with steady mind to steer this country in the correct path instead of the cliff where the GOP is leading us.

Schatz should be ashamed of himself for casting his vote at the DNC for Clinton even though it was Bernie who won the voting in Hawaii. Party rules may have allowed it but that doesn’t make it right.
He substituted his own preference and ignored the wishes of the people who elected him. He should be run out of office and retired with his mentor Abercrombie.

Leadership post? That is a laugh. The duties of the majority whip are to (1) assist the floor leader, (2) ensure member attendance, (3) count votes and (4) generally communicate the majority position. Translation: He is a flunky for Senator Schummer.

“…Schatz said will give him a greater role in shaping policy and communications for the minority Democrats.”
Communicate this: When the polls say the Dems are ahead, DON’T take it for granted. Verify the info. DON’T discount and minimize the Voters, Especially in Flyover country. Reach out to EVERYONE instead of just paying lip service. And take care of the AMERICAN people first.